Two heddles and 2 shuttle sticks

I can't seem to get this configuration to work for a 4s pattern. I have 2 rigid heddles and 2 stick shuttles and am unable to get the 4th shed open (4-1 shed on the 4s pattern). I am trying to do a 4s point twill and I can't get it to work.

Here is what I worked out:

The fourth shed is impossible to get open, it's too hard to separate the threads from the 3rd and 4th shed.

How many threads do you have going through each slot? I'm thinking that this should be threaded so that you have 3 threads in each slot? One that is picked up by the hole of the other heddle and two that are picked up by the pick up sticks.

Yup, that's how I set it up. There are three threads through the slots on each heddle and one in the hole. I put 4 different color threads on the loom so I could designate one to each corresponding shaft on a 4s loom. Which 2 threads should be on each stick? I only have one thread on each stick.

Which colour are you have problems getting in the up position? I took a close look at the picture you posted and it looks to me like the red threads are perhaps crossed with some of the other threads, ie it looks like it comes through a slot in the back and the the slot to the right of that in the front. Let me know what colour you're having problems with and I'll see if I can help you out with this problem.

Thank Erica. I have threaded the two heddles exactly as described in the Ashford article . So, white is in the hole on heddle 1, yellow in the hole on heddle 2 and red and brown are in the slots, one on the left the other on the right. I designated the brown as shaft 3 and have it being picked up by the first stick shuttle. I designated the red as shaft 4 and being picked up by the 2nd stick shuttle.

When I try to get the 4th shed, which would be white and red, I cannot get the red to separate enough from the brown to create any type of shed. Here is the point twill I am trying to weave with this structure. I am looking to use a traditional tie up of 1-2, 2-3, 3-4, 4-1. And it's the 4-1 that trips me up because it requires the 1st heddle to be in the up position and the 2nd string heddle to be up also. So, with the heddles in neutral, I pulled up on the 2nd string heddle and cannot get it to separate enough from the 1st string heddle to slip a pick-up stick under it. The threads are not crossed, I checked that. It just evades me.

Thanks for any suggestions you have. I am willing to try anything over the next day or two. Then, I have to abandon this to weave a scarf that is a sample I have promised.

I have my Flip loom with two heddles threaded as 1 2 3 4 for Double Weave. I am following Betty Davenport's book Textures and Patterns on the Rigid Heddle loom.

1-hole on heddle 1 and slot on heddle 2

2 -through slots on both heddles

3 through slot on heddle 1 and hole on heddle 2

4 through slots on both heddles

I have problems in getting sheds for 2 and for 4. Instead of using string heddles I am using pick-up sticks. I do not have a problem in getting clear sheds with pick-up sticks. With one stick I have warp threads for 2 and on the second the warp threads for 4. For 1 I lift heddle one and for 3 I lift heddle 2.

To get a shed for 1-4 I would push both heddles down to expose 2 and 4 warp threads and just let the heddles rest on the warp without pushing them under the heddle block but as close to the heddle block as possible. I would turn the pick-up stick for 4 on its edge to get a clear shed for 4. Then I would slowly lift heddle one until the warp threads for 1 lifts to the level of 4. At that point I would insert a shed stick to help clear the 1-4 shed.

I have not experimented using string heddles but it 'should' work. Let both heddles rest in front of the heddle block. Lift the second string heddle to bring up warp 4 and slowly lift heddle one. Insert a shed stick to hold the shed so you can release heddle one and string heddle.

I use the neutral positions in the Flip's heddle block only to warp the loom. When I start to weave the 'neutral' position is actually letting the heddles rest in front of the heddle block. I can't get a clear shed if any heddle is in the neutral warping position in the heddle block.

Please let me know if this way works for you. Everyone and every loom together is different and we often have to change directions to get it to work for us.

BTW, what Ashford article are you referencing? Your draft is for Point Twill but it seams that the threading for the Ashford article is 1 2 3 4. You will still get Twill with 1-2, 2-3, 3-4, 4-1 but it would look like the Point Twill draft. On the other hand maybe it is just me. It is late and I have had a long day.

Thank you very much, these are very helpful suggestions. With the stick shuttles it is difficult to get them down in the same way you can with the heddles. I think that may be the problem and, without a third heddle, it's just not possible.

I have abandoned this endeavor and am looking forward to the WAL with Erica for the 3s point twill.

My thanks to everyone who gave me ideas and suggestions. These are all good ideas which can be used in many situations when weaving with 2 heddles.

For now, I'm moving on to a 3s Bronson draft and give that a go before I warp the loom with the hand dyed tencel I have.